Alice Grace (vocals); Mark Williams
(guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums)
'Full
of elegance, melody, and wonderful singing and playing'
This remark in the comments box sums up
this performance better than any reviewer can do. 'An hour of sheer jazz
delights' I could have added to the comments. The band was well on form, the
consistent yet adventurous bass, the skilled guitar, the drummer as great as
we've come to expect, and our singer, classy, elegant, an example for other
singers to follow.
So who is the fifth member of the quintet?
That is Alice's unborn son, making his presence felt by kicking. Research shows
that unborn babies respond to music, so tonight we met a future jazzer! He
first heard Weaver of Dreams, with gentle scat and wordless
vocalisation, then a beautiful version of Skylark, and a quick camera
shot of the birds on our drummer's tee shirt!
There followed seven more songs, including
an original Travelling Light (exquisite solo from the guitar); a Michael
Jackson number, I Can't Help It.
Close Your Eyes featured a drum introduction, a lovely 'chock chock'
sound, fours between drums and voice, and an extended ending based on the lyrics
'close your eyes'
I was very interested to hear Never Let
Me Go, as I'd been wanting to hear this song for years, ever since reading
the acclaimed science fantasy novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. The
song is featured in the novel which is a good read. I digress but thank you to
Alice for that. Secret Love featured
hands on the drums, another sound I enjoy, wordplay rather than scat, and
lively guitar and drum solos. The well-deserved encore was My Romance, and
so the gig ended on a high.
Around 35 households were watching on
YouTube, including Alice's parents, people in Wimbledon, Hexham, 5 people
'quaffing wine' in Tynemouth. The Globe is to be congratulated for very
professional presentation, with introductory titles at the beginning, good
camera work and sound, and welcoming remarks in the chat. I felt that they
really cared that we were there, and so did the band.
Ann
Alex
Weaver of Dreams; Skylark; Travelling
Light; Don't Be That Way; Close Your Eyes; Never Let Me Go; I Can't Help It;
Secret Love; My Romance.
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